South March Highlands Conservation Forest

Woodland Warriors

Our Woodland Warriors are working hard to fight back against ecologically harmful forest invaders...

In 2025 we received a grant from the City of Ottawa to build and install Boot & Bike Cleaning Stations at the three trailheads.

Cleaning stations have proven to reduce the spread of invasive plant species by hikers and bikers. Studies show that boots and tire treads play a major role in spreading invasive plant seeds into ecologically sensitive areas. Invasive plants and their seeds commonly accumulate at trailheads, where they threaten native vegetation (flora) and wildlife (fauna).

Impact of Invasive Plants on the South March Highlands Conservation Forest -
Reduced Forest Regeneration and Productivity

Invasive plants can reduce forest regeneration through direct competition with tree seedlings, resulting in reduced density and slowed growth rate. Reduction in forest regeneration results in the loss of wildlife habitat, and decreases the diversity of a stand, making it more vulnerable to insects and disease.

Invasive plants can also affect forest productivity by impacting beneficial soil organisms and changing soil chemistry. Some invasive plants can form dense mats of vegetation, hindering natural forest regeneration and hindering or preventing access by forestry workers and equipment (e.g. dog-strangling vine (Cynanchicum rossicum)).

https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/invasive-plants/impacts/